Air France has made its first passenger flight to Iran in nearly a decade.

The resumption of the Paris-Tehran flight after eight years comes after a landmark nuclear deal reached between Iran and world powers that went into effect in January.

Among the passengers on the April 17 flight were French Transport Minister Alain Vidalies and 15 French business leaders.

The resumption of international flights to Tehran's Imam Khomenei International Airport is one of the tangible results of the nuclear deal, which capped Tehran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions.

Iranians officials have complained that the deal has not yet produced visible benefits.

Tehran is hoping to diversify its economy and boost growth by increasing the number of Western tourists and investors to visit the country.

Air France will fly to Tehran three times a week.

German carrier Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines also run several flights a week connecting Iran and Europe.